1
as in forerunner
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
18th-century lyric poets like Robert Burns were precursors of the Romantics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ancestor
something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed
a precursor of the modern eggplant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precursor
The government is also considering technological investments, such as using lab technology, to detect and curb the flow of fentanyl at the border and identify the provenance of precursor chemicals needed to make it.
—
Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Such a filing with the state is often a precursor to a lawsuit.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
While not formally a lawsuit, Lively’s action is clearly a precursor to an official filing in the courts to come.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
The commitment to work together on wildlife conservation and environmental education is a first for Arizona and could be a precursor to refuge designation.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for precursor 
Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Such a filing with the state is often a precursor to a lawsuit.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
While not formally a lawsuit, Lively’s action is clearly a precursor to an official filing in the courts to come.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
The commitment to work together on wildlife conservation and environmental education is a first for Arizona and could be a precursor to refuge designation.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for precursor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precursor
Noun
-
The company's North American forerunner, Chrysler, has been left for dead repeatedly over the decades, only to emerge with hit products like minivans in the 1980s and the Dodge Ram pickup in the 1990s.Joel Mathis, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
-
The launch of its own line of foundation models marks Amazon’s latest push to strengthen its position against forerunners Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.AFP, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The heroine feels a sense of belonging; she is told that this is the home of her ancestors.Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
-
Martínez sought to both channel their energy and encourage younger generations to pursue the music of their ancestors.Solcyré Burga, TIME, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Do the 2025 Golden Globe Awards translate to Oscar gold? Actors, directors and producers picking up Golden Globe awards have good reason to feel their wins could be a harbinger of Oscar night celebrations in a few months.Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2025
-
The ugly scene on a suburban street was a harbinger of skirmishes to come.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Soon, her two sons and daughter also began getting symptoms.Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 13 Jan. 2025
-
The number of people reporting symptoms declined a year after the fire, but even two years out, about a third of those surveyed reported at least one smoke- and ash-related symptom.Jen Christensen, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
If Wired of the 2010s was the cheerful herald of a shiny, happy future (not a judgment!), this piece is its indignant child, pointing accusingly at the mess.Longreads, Longreads, 20 Dec. 2024
-
The part comes with all sorts of details that serve as the heralds of its legitimacy, like the fact that Jolie spent months in training to sing opera, her real voice blended with Callas’s famous one whenever her character performs.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
In a sign that demand for high-end listings will quickly outpace supply, Eckardt hosted showings on Thursday for four rental properties.Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Jan. 2025
-
Weather reports have shown no signs of rain that might help relieve the intensity of the fires.James Bickerton, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The company’s existing investors Greycroft, Correlation Ventures and MVP Ventures also joined in the round — along with notable angel investors including Gokul Rajaram and Ken Pilot.Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
-
Amit Jain, finance/strategy expert, angel investor, leads Dhruva Advisors USA & USACFO, driving M&A, cross-border investments & acquisitions One of the most difficult parts of the fundraising exercise for entrepreneurs is negotiating the valuation discussion.Amit Jain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near precursor
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precursor. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share